The Egyptian government has announced a new law that transfers the affiliation of the Al-Azhar Library to the Presidency, in an unprecedented step in the library's history that extends back to the Fatimid era. This shift comes at a time when the library is preparing to unveil its knowledge treasures, raising questions about the impact of this transition on its academic independence and cultural role.
The Al-Azhar Library was established during the Fatimid era, serving as the nucleus of the "Al-Azhar Bookhouse," and over the centuries, it has accumulated manuscripts and scientific treasures that form an integral part of the religious and intellectual memory of Egypt and the Islamic world. With the new law, the library has become a "public legal entity" under the authority of the President, reflecting a structural change in its management.
Details of the New Law
According to the new law, the administrative structure of the library will consist of a Board of Trustees chaired by the President, with the Vice President being the Sheikh of Al-Azhar. This board will include between 15 and 30 members of prominent figures for a term of 4 years. The structure also includes a Board of Directors headed by the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, comprising between 15 and 21 members, including at least 10 scholars from Al-Azhar.
The library houses rare collections, including 500,000 books and approximately 50,000 manuscripts, of which 4,000 are rare manuscripts dating back over a thousand years. It also contains 970 handwritten Qurans from various periods, including the famous Sefini Quran in Kufic script from the 4th century AH, along with 142 rare maps.
Background & Context
The concept of the library was established during the Fatimid state in Egypt (517 AH – 1123 AD) and has spread across 6 locations within Al-Azhar Mosque. Over the centuries, the library has evolved to become one of the most prestigious repositories of knowledge in the Islamic world, preserving rare manuscripts and books that reflect the cultural and religious heritage of the region.
This move is part of the Egyptian government's efforts to enhance governance and develop cultural institutions, as the new law aims to strengthen institutional support for the library, which may contribute to improving its services and expanding its activities.
Impact & Consequences
While the new law is framed within a regulatory context aimed at enhancing governance, questions arise about what this transition will add to the library's status and scientific role. Comparative jurisprudence professor, Abdul Halim Mansour, emphasized that the library's affiliation with the Presidency may provide it with institutional support; however, its success depends on maintaining its academic independence.
On the other hand, library science professor, Sa'id Dawood, considered the law a qualitative leap that will provide greater financial and technical support, thereby enhancing the library's status as a treasure trove of knowledge containing valuable manuscripts in Islamic and Arabic sciences.
Regional Significance
With this new law, the Al-Azhar Library stands at a crossroads between "heritage protection" and "administrative modernization." While the new law provides sovereign support and opportunities for digital governance, the real challenge remains in transforming the manuscript treasures into globally accessible knowledge.
The library seeks to reclaim its historical role as a center of intellectual radiance and a bridge connecting the history of the Islamic nation with its knowledge future, which requires activating its research role and expanding its services to meet the demands of the digital age.